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(No Model.)

, P. P. HINDS. ART 0R PROCESS OF MAKING WIRE DISHGLOTHS. No. 442,436. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

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wfl/aww W @WW E7 2%.2Z/W/f/A4L7 UNITED STATES FRAXKLIN I. HINDS, OF \YOROESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE IRE GOODS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ART OR PROCESS OF MAKING WIRE DISHCLOTHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,436, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed January 31, 1890. Serial No. 338,766- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN I Ilnvns, of Worcester, in the county of 'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art or Process of Making \Vire Dishcloths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

IO forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents portions of a wire panscraper made in accordance with my improved method. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig.

I 5 3 represents a series of interlinked wire rings and so much of the devices for holding the same in position while each succeeding link is being formed and interlinked as is necessary to illustrate my improved method of producing the wire fabric of which the scrapers are composed, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Fig. l is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 with the longitudinal bars of the holding devices in cross-section; and Fig. 5 represents a modification in the construction of the rings hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to produce a dishcloth composed of interlinked wire rings, each having at least two helices or coils in their construction, substantially like the wirecloth shown and described in my United States patent, No. 422,214, dated February 25, 1890; and it consists in the improved art or process of forming each successive ring upon the end of a wire strand, at the same time interlinking said ring with one or more other previously-completed rings, and finally severing the last completed ring from said strand by a continuous and automatic operation, as hereinafter more fully set forth. Prior to the date of said United States patent it has been customary to make wire dishcloths of this class wholly of single rings or of part single and double rings, the rings of which the fabric is composed being manufactured separately in quantities and subsequently woven or interlinked to form said fabric by a separate and laborious operation effected by the use of hand-pinchers, each ring requiring to be opened or expanded to allow it to be passed through the adjoining rings of the fabric and then pinched together again, which it will be apparent requires considerable care and skillful manipulation to make all the rings alike and produce a uniformly-woven fabric. The usual method has been to employ single rings with abutting ends, or a row of single and then a row of double rings, alternating throughout the length of the fabric, the purpose being to facilitate the operation of said hand-weaving, the single rings, it is obvious, being much more easily interlinked with each other or with the double rings than if the fabric were composed wholly of double rings, as in my improved wire fabric.

The old style of wire disheloths are objectionable, from the fact that, owing to the rough usage to which they are put, the single rings are very liable to become bent in such a manner as to open the joint at the abutting ends, and thus permit the rings to drop out, thereby practically rendering the cloth useless; and, furthermore, by thus bending out the ends, even if the fabric is not otherwise injured, the hands are liable to severe injury by punctures from said ends in use.

In order that others may fully understand the nature and purpose of my invention, I will proceed now to describe it morein detail.

I11 the drawings, A represents the dishcloth proper, which in Fig. l is shown partly in skeleton form by means of the dotted circles a. The rings 1) thereof are all made in spiral form-in this instance with two helices or single coils to each ring. I do not limit myself to said number, however, as the same result may be effected by making said rings with three coils, as shown in Fig. 5, or even more, if desired. I form said rings and at the same operation interlink them with the other rings of the fabric in the following manner:

I employ two suitable holding devicesB 13, having a series of transverse hooks c, fastened at the proper distances apart, to engage with a row of rings arranged side by side to hold the same in an extended position, as is shown in Fig. 3 during the formation and interlinking of the rings of each successive row of rings. The devices B B are in practice held one in each hand of the operator in the proper position for the ring forming and linking machine to perform its office. Said machine is provided with a coiling device similar to those in common use for manufacturing spiral springs and with suitable cutters for severing the wire after each ring is coiled, which is also of ordinary construction, the only changes 01 lIl0difiC2Ltl0l1S required in the mechanism being such as would naturally be employed to adapt said mechanism to the use to which I have applied the same. As said machine constitutes no part of my present invention, and is unnecessary to make clear the nature and purpose thereof, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate orfurther describe the same.

Assuming that a portion of the dishcloth has been woven, as shown in Fig. 3, in forming and interlinking one of the rings b, the operator holds said partially-completed dishcloth in the proper position to bring the ring or rings thereof, through which the next new ring is to be passed, over and in the proper position for the wire feeder and coiler of the machine to pass the free end of the wire through and around the aforesaid ring. or rings, thus forming and interli'nking said ring at one operation, as is indicated at Z) in said Fig. 3, the wire strand being passed longitudinally through the ring or rings, and at the same time coiled spirally to produce the new interlinked ring on the end of the strand. After the wire has been thus fed and bent around to form the desired number of coils and that the machine is adjusted to make, the cutters come into action and sever the main strand of wire d'from the coiled ring, as is indicated by dotted lines d in Fig. 4, thus completing said ring and leaving it when finished interlinked with the ring or rings through which the machine passed the wire, as aforesaid. The next and each succeeding ring is formed and interlinked in like manner until the row of rings is completed to make the dishcloth of the desired width. Upon the completion of each row of rings or links the holding device on the side that the same have been formed is then unhooked and hooked into the last row formed, when the coiling and linking operations are repeated to form the next row, and so on to the completion of the dishcloth.

Although I prefer in practice to interlink the rings to produce the design shown in the drawings, I do not limit myself thereto, my improved process is equally applicable in so linking said rings as to produce other designs.

By the fore oing process it is obvious that this class of dishcloths for scouring pans, kettles, and similar culinary articles may be manufactured very expeditiously and at small expense; also, that being made mechanically each ring is made alike and perfect. The completed fabric presents'a superior scraping-surface. It is therefore effective as well as strong and durable and absolutely proof against becoming unlinked, thus removing a serious objection to the old form of disholoths made Wholly or in part of single rings.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by. Letters Patent, is-

The process of making wire dishcloths composed of a series of spirally-coiled and interlinked rings, each having two or more helices or coils in their construction, which consists of forming each successive ring upon the end of a wire strand, at the same time interlinking. said ring with one or more previouslycompleted rings of the partially-completed fabric while the latter is held in position, and finally severing the last completed ring which has been thus woven into the fabric from. the strand, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANKLIN P. Il'I'NDS.

WVitnesses:

A. A. BARKER, \V. B. NOURsE. 

